All Images Shown Here Are Public Information
These are pictures of the dog, known as Phoenix, in July 2008.
He appears chained near an empty dogfood bag.
Jefferson County Deputy Sloan contacts The Greater Birmingham Humane Society
about an alleged animal cruelty situation.
Birmingham-Jefferson County Animal Control Services, Inc.
impounds Phoenix on July 25, 2008; holding him as evidence
in the cruelty case.
A County Police Officer releases Phoenix to BJCAC.
BJCAC's veterinarian assesses Phoenix on July 29, 2008.
The cruelty case is concluded, and Phoenix is remanded to The Greater
Birmingham Humane Society on June 19, 2009 by Judge Watkins.
June 19, 2009, Greater Birmingham Humane Society receives Phoenix
from Birmingham-Jefferson County Animal Control Services, Inc.
Greater Birmingham Humane Society veterinarian evaluates Phoenix.
GBHS sends letters [with documentation, photos, and video] ,
such as the one below, to all County Commissioners
and Birmingham City Councilors.
No one responds.
After The Greater Birmingham Humane Society's best efforts,
Phoenix dies.
(Links to Jefferson County Commissioners and Birmingham City Councilors
contact information is available on this blog’s homepage)
Higher Ground for Animals 
You may be interested, if not heard already, about Black Jack, the street dog picked up in Pinson by 2 animal collection officers from BJC AC and dragged along the floor. He is known in the neighbourhood and fed by many residents. There is an uproar on BJC ANIMAL CONTROL Facebook page which I assume will be removed ASAP by them but the camera never lies and a man pulling a sitting dog behind him as you would a child on a sledge is out of order as you’ll see by the picture.
Hi Lyn, thank you for the heads-up! I have visited the BJCAC Facebook page, read the comments about ‘Jack,’ and the response by BJCAC.
If I may make a recommendation: The City of Pinson has a contract with BJCAC to pick-up ‘stray’ dogs in Pinson. Typically, the contract would be passed by the Pinson City Council. It is the elected officials, that make up the Pinson City Council, that need to be hearing ALL of the public outrage about ‘Jack.’
The general phone number for Pinson Government is (205) 680-5556. You should be able to call the number and ask to speak to a City Councilor or the mayor’s office and make your outrage known. (Try to be civil.) (Do not be intimidated…these are elected officials…who work for the citizens of Pinson…you pay their salaries with your tax dollars.)
Some helpful links:
Pinson Mayor’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pinson-Alabama-Mayors-Office/345695701154
Pinson City Council: http://www.thecityofpinson.com/city-council.html
There should be justice for ‘Jack.’ I hope he is safe tonight.
VA~
HELLO. JUST WONDERING, THIS IS A HORRIBLE STORY. IT SEEMS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO POSTS FOR A WHILE. IS THERE AN UPDATE OR DID THIS BECOME A “COLD CASE”?
THANKS,
BEE HARBERT
Hi Bee,
Thank you for the question.
At the time that the original information was posted here, all Birmingham City Councilors had received an information packet with pictures and video from GBHS regarding Phoenix, and the County attorney had been notified. (There is, also, a comment stating that ‘Jill’ was writing to the District Attorney. I know of no response to her letter.)
Sadly, with Phoenix’s death, I believe elected officials hoped the incident would go away.
I know of no other action taken in regard to this incident.
If all of this is upsetting to you, and you live in Jefferson County, you are encouraged to join the Jefferson County Voters for Animal Protection voting bloc.
[http://jeffersoncountyvotersforanimalprotection.wordpress.com/] and on Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Jefferson-County-Voters-for-Animal-Protection/120993957933849?ref=ts]
Part of our agenda is an animal control oversight committee. Taking a somewhat unique approach to previous attempts at an oversight committee, we seek a citizen representative from each of the five county-commission districts.
Another part of the JCVAP agenda is minimum care standards for animals at shelters, animal control facilities, pet stores, and rescues.
This whole situation has continued to make me very angry, and so very sad for Phoenix, who literally went from neglect to neglect. By the time he made it to GBHS it was too late.
The overwhelming silence of government has been a huge disappointment, and a motivation in the creation of the JCVAP voting bloc. The incoming County Commission Candidates will want our votes…….and in return we want improved animal protection!
I would like everyone to know that GBHS fought for this dog from the time it was taken into Birmingham Jefferson County Animal Control until the day he died. They were at the mercy of the courts. Once Phoenix was released to GBHS he received outstanding care and love from GBHS. Four days after arriving at GBHS he went to a loving foster home where he slept in a warm bed with his foster mom and dad and was an official indoor family member. He was in the process of being adopted by his new foster family when he was overcome with complications due to heartworms. He may have been in hell for the first years of his life but the last 6 weeks were “family bliss”!!
I appreciate you for giving such a informative portal. Your site is not just informative but also very creative too. We find very few people who are capable of write not so easy stuff that creatively. we look for information on something like this. I Myself went over several websites to find information about this.I will check back often!!
My friend suggested this website, and she was totally right. Keep up the great work!!!
Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.
Lots of people talk about this subject but you wrote down some true words!!
This story sickens me.
What a pathetic SHAME that GBHS did not/could not or would not intervene in Phoenix’s behalf ten months EARLIER than they did! This poor “voiceless victim” could have lived a happy, care-free life if only SOMEONE had cared, even a little bit, for this unfortunate creature. R.I.P. sweet little Phoinix…you were NEVER, “just a dog” to any of the animal advocates around the world who would have loved you and taken care of you for the rest of your live. See you at the Rainbow Bridge little buddy.
Hi joanne,
Thank you for posting a comment on the HGforAnimals blog.
It is my understanding that Phoenix being impounded at animal control was court mandated. So many employees at animal control saw him daily; it is all of them who bear responsibility, in my opinion.
I totally agreethat the responsibility
for Phoenix’s health, life, and well-being falls on every employee. However, having been an employee of an “Animal Control” facility many years ago, I soon realized that whatever the “head honcho” wants done regarding the animals is exactly what GETS done. Sad, but true. I, personally, lost my job because I exploited some of the illegal & immoral things that went on at the facility I worked at. The only good thing that came of my “formal” complaint was that the story hit all the newspapers in that county, which resulted in the animals getting treated better while they were “incarcerated!”
Losing my job for causing such a rucus was probably one of the better things that happened to me back then because it just propelled me into animal rescue that much sooner, :-)
I just sent a letter to the Jefferson County District Attorney. He is the one with the authority to investigate this case. Send a letter to:
Brandon K. Falls
Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office
801 Richard Arrington, Jr. Blvd. North
Birmingham , Alabama 35203-0121
You can also contact the Alabama State Veterinarian:
http://agi.alabama.gov/directory#AnimalProtection
April,
Please let it be known if you receive a reply from the Jefferson County DA. There seems to be a lot of fear and intimidation on this issue in this area.
Perhaps you can open the door to shed light on this awful situation.
Best,
Victoria ~
Please sign petition here: http://www.change.org/actions/view/help_convince_birmingham_alabamas_mayor_change_is_needed_at_animal_control
Thanks Ginger!
Best,
Victoria ~